Almost 60% of North Dakota legislators have missed at least one day of the session, with a total of 195 absences costing taxpayers over $41,000 in per-diem payments. While Rep. Lori VanWinkle received criticism for missing a week-long vacation during the session, she is not the most absent lawmaker. Rep. Landon Bahl has missed the most days, citing work commitments as the reason for his absences. Other lawmakers, such as Rep. Jayme Davis, missed days due to family emergencies and medical appointments. Despite the absences, some lawmakers are proposing that legislators should not receive pay for days they miss without valid reasons. While there is a law stating legislators are entitled to pay during the session, a rule from before 1957 suggests that legislators should not draw pay for more than one day without leave, sparking a debate on whether pay should be withheld for unexcused absences. No official requests have been submitted yet to withhold pay for absent lawmakers.
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